Support for spinning-spindles



(No Model.)

J. R. GRAY. SUPPORT FOR SPINNING SPINDLBS.

No. 437,923. Patented Oct. 7, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES R. GRAY, OF AYER, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE DRAPER & SONS, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS.

SUPPORT FOR SPINNING-SPINDLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,923, dated October 7, 1890.

Application filed March 5, 1890. Serial No. 342,784. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES R. GRAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ayer, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Supports for Spinning-Spindles, of which the following descriptiomin connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of spindles commonly known as self-centering, and more especially to that type of self-centering spindles in which the bearing-tube which receives and supports the spindle has no lateral motion at the plane of the bandpull, and having the lower end or part of such tube resting against a conical surface which operates to return the tube to its normal and concentric position in the bolster-case after the tube has been moved laterally and out of such concentric position to accommodate its bobbin-load. This type of spindle is best shown in United States Patent No. 408,330, granted to Henry Thrasher; and my invention may in some respects be considered as an improvement on the construction shown in such patent.

The objects of my invention are, first, to provide a construction in which the means for attaching the bolster-case to the bolsterrail shall be entirely independent from the means which give vertical support to either the bearing-tube or the step, so that any variation in the thickness of the bolster-rail shall in no way affect the adjustment of the bearing-tube or step; secondly, my invention has for its object to provide a construction by means of which the degree of tension or resistance to lateral movement of the foot of the bearing-tube or step within the bolstercase maybe easily changed or adjusted without removing the bearing-tube from the bolster-case or without the substitution of new or additional parts.

My invention consists, essentially, in an improved construction and arrangement of the parts shown in the said patent, No. &OS,330, by means of which the objects which I have set forth are secured, and also in the application of certain new or additional parts, all of which will be hereinafter set forth.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view of my improve ment, the spindle and bearing-tube being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on line 00 :20 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the upper part of the bolster-case and bearing-tube, showing the means for locking the bearing-tube to prevent rotation.

The spindle A and its sleeve-whirl a, are of the usual construction. The spindle is also received and supported in the bearing-tube B in the usual manner, all the bearings for the spindle being contained in the tube. The bearing-tube B is carried or supported by means of the shoulder b, formed on the tube and resting 011 the top of the bolster-case D, as shown. This point of support is preferably at or near the plane of the band-pull. By this arrangement the weight of the spindle and its load is carried at the center of motion of the bearing-tube and the gravity of the same in no way interferes with the lateral movement of the lower end of the said bearing-tube; also, the vertical position of the spindle is not affected by the relative position of the cup-nut C, which relative position must necessarily vary with whatever variation occurs in the thickness of the bolsterrail.

The bore of the bolster-case D is enlarged from the plane of the shoulder 19 downward by a taper, as shown, or by any other convenientform, so that the bearing-tube B has lateral support or contact at or near the plane of the baudpull only, and the foot of the bearing-tube is therefore free to rock in all radial directions, the shoulder I) being the center of such motion. The purpose of this lateral motion of the foot of the bearing-tube is well understood by those familiar with the operation of the present forms of high-speed spindles to be to enable the spindle to accommodate itself more freely to an unequallydistributed bobbin-load, and thereby to re duce the tendency to vibration when the spindle is rotating at high speed. It is also well understood that when lateral movement is thus given or allowed to the bearing-tube within the bolster-case in this class of spindles it is necessary to provide means by which a proper resistance or restraint shall be 1m posed against such movement, since in the absence of such proper degree of restraint the spindle will tend to take up a gyratory move' ment at its upper end.

The mechanical parts or elements which 'I use to control the movements of the bearingtubeare substantially the same as those shown and described in the said patent, No. 408,330 that is to say, a conical surface and a spring co-operating together to resist lateral movement and to return the tube to its normal and concentric position; but I have arranged these parts in an entirely different manner, by means of which I have obtained a new and improved result of great practical value.

That conical surface which has heretofore been formed as a fixed part or attachment'of the bearing-tubel make as a movable sliding part or collar cl, which is fitted to the tube B and is adapted to slide freely up and down thereon. The diameter'of this collar is less than that of the surrounding parts, so that it may move laterally in common with the lower end of the bearing-tube. By this arrangement the vertical movements of ,the sliding collar are not communicated to the tube and spindle, and the weight of these parts in no way affects the movements of the collar. The collar is provided with a convex surface on its upper side, and it is adapted to be held against a concave surface formed in the lower end of the bolster-case by means of a spring e, which encirclesthe lower end of the bearing tube and presses the collar against the lower end of the bolster-case. The spring e is supported at its lower end by the nut f, screwed or otherwise adjustably attached to the lower end of the bearing-tube. With this arrangement it is obvious that by turning or otherwise adjusting the nut on the lower end of the tube the pressure of the spring on the collar may be varied and adjusted at will, and the degree of resistance to lateral movement of the bearing-tube thereby regulated and controlled; also that the pressure of the spring ce-operating with the conical surface or surfaces will cause the collar to seek the center, and while lateral movement of the lower end of the bearing-tube and collar may take place freely such lateral movement will be resisted or cushioned by the same co-operation of parts.

In order that the nut f may be prevented from turning, the interior of the cup-nut at g is made in the form, say, of a hexagon. The nut f is also made of a similar form and loosely fitted within the hexagonal part of the cup-nut, as shown in Fig. 2. By this arrangement of parts two useful results are securedviz., the nut f is loosely restrained from turning from the effect of thejar or otherwise, and thereby losing the adjustment of the spring,

' and the nut being thus held or restrained its position on the lower end of the bearing-tube may be changed and the pressure of the spring adjusted by rotating the bearing-tube from a point above the shoulder b.

' In practice it is also desirable that the bearing-tube should be normally restrained from rotating in the bolster-case, and such rotation is prevented by means of the locking-pin i, fixed to the bearing-tube and received by the slot 0, formed in the wall of the bolster-case, as shown at Fig. 3. When it is desired to rotate the bearing-tube for the purpose of adj usting the pressure of the spring, the spindle and its sleeve-whirl are raised sufficiently to expose the upper end of the bearing-tube. The tube is then raised so that the pin 11 will clear the slot 0, and the tube is then rotated in whichever direction it is desired.

I do not limit myself to the particular means herein shown either for loosely restraining the rotation of the nut f or for'locking the bearing-tube B, as it is obvious that other convenient means may be used for the same:

purpose. I wish it understood, also,'that in the application of the sliding collar and spring I do not limit myself to the manner of supportin g the bearing-tube by means of the shoulder b, as it is likewise obvious that the bearingtube may be supported vertically at any other.

point withoutin any way afiecting the functions of the said parts.

-It is not essential that the surfaces of contact between the sliding collar and bolstercase be conical in form, as it is obvious that resistance to lateral movement ofthe foot of the bearing-tube would be secured if such surfaces were fiat, as the pressure of the springrwould produce lateral frictionbetween the surfaces of contact, which would operate to resist lateral movement of the bearingtube. In practice, however, I prefer the conical form, as shown, as such form combines with the function of lateral friction and'resistanoe the additional function of operating to return the parts to their normal position. *It is also obvious that this latter function may be secured if but one of the contact-surfaces be conical, the other surface being formed as an angle or edge to, receive the ,7 u, r

conical surface at a single line of contact. I do not, therefore, limit myself to any special form of the contact-surfaces between the sliding collar and bolster-case, and have shown in the drawings only that form whichbest illustrates the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what 'I claim is- 1. A bolster-case, a bearing-tube adapted to rock within the bolster-case, a collar fitting the bearing-tube and having independent vertical movement with relation thereto, and a spring operating to hold the said collar in vertical contact with the bolster-case, substantially as described.

2. A bolster-case, a bearing-tube adapted to rock within the bolster-case, a collar fitting the bearing-tube and having independent vertical movement with relation thereto, a spring operating to hold the said collar in vertical contact with the bolster-case, and an adjustable support for the said spring, by

means of which its pressure may be regulated, substantially as described.

3. A bolster-case, a bearing-tube adapted to rock within the bolster-case, a collar fitting the bearing-tube and having independent vertical movement with relation thereto, a spring operating to hold the said collar in vertical contact with the bolster-case, and a support for the said spring, adjustably attached to the bearing-tube, substantially as described.

4. A bolster-case, a bearing-tube adapted to rock within the bolster-case, a collar fitting the bearing-tube and having independent vertical movement with relation thereto, a spring operating to hold the said collar in vertical contact with the bolster-case, and a support for the said spring, adjustably attached to the bearing-tube and restrained from rotating therewith, substantially as de- 20 

